Dough divider



March 24, 192s .Essa-623 n. w. sum-1 DOUGH DIVIDER Filedoct. 2S, 1.922 zsh'eetrs-sne't 1 l ym,

March 24, 1925.

1,530,623 D. W. SMITH DOUGH DIVIDER `Filed Oct. 26, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 2.4, 1925. i-

UNIT-Epo STATES Pafrtaur,.ri-"ien` DENNIS woon ennui, or Winners-E, rii'rrruis, assisiion To consonne Mamma@ TUBING co., or omesso, rnniiiois, a conformaron or rnmnors.

DOUGH' DIVIDER.

Appia-ation inea octoberJ es, 192e. serial Nummers.

To all whom 'it may concern.'

Be it known that I., DENNIS Woon SMiTin a citizen of the United StatesA of America, and a resident of lVilmette, county ofl Cook, and State of Illinois,have invented aE new and useful .Improvement in Dough Dividers, of which'the ,following is a specification. y

l,This invention relates 'to dough `dividers of the type wherein the doughisdelivered in charges of predetermined size and weight into cells provided with movable bottomsand supported by a niovable carrier, the charges of dough being successively 'dscharged before the respective cells move intoposition to receive other charges? from the delivery mechanism y The main ob'ects of this invention are to provide an improved construction and arfor dough dividers of rangement of carrier the aforesaid type; to provide improved mechanism for intermittently operatingthe carrier so as to bring the cells successively into Afilling land. discharging' positions; to

provide improved means for dischargiing.`

the dough from `the cells; and to providevop.- erating mechanism of the above character,

t which is controlled yby ,the lpositionof the movable bottom in the cell whichA is arranged to receive dough `from the deliverynieclianisni. y

An illustrative embodimentvof this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings` whereinl y Figure 1 is 'a central vertical section, partly inelevation, 1of a dough divider embodying lthis invention, `and for the sake of clearness, certain parts of the mechanism inthe background have beenwomitted, as not/.being essential to a clear understanding of the invention. y y o y Figure 2 is a transverse vertical section, taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.; l l

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section, taken on the Alining-3 of Figure` 1, and

showing the clutch mechanism in eleva-tieni` Figure 4L is atop plan of the cam tfacl;`

` which controls the clutch, part of the clutch elen'ients being also shown.

Figure yis a detail-of part ofthe trippingy mechanism. y i .Y u

In the form shown, the dough divider includes a. plural-ity ofi-cells,- having' movable upright to inverted position. Dough isidelivered to the cells in succession by delivery means mounted 'above the ,carrier-,and the charges of dough are subsequently ejected by the movable bot-toms which are camined outwardly when the cells reach the dis,-

charging position. The carrier is connected to operating mechanism byan improved form of clutch which is arranged for intermittent operation for effecting a `step by step movement of thel cells to `facilitate the deliyery of the dough. The clutch is controlled by trippingmechanism, which is` ar-4 ranged to coact with the scale plates in succession, so asto be `actuated by the movement of the yrespective scale plate to a predetermined position relative to its cell, when the latter is located in position to receive acharge of dough. f

Referring to the drawings, the dough divider comprisesa frame 1, on which is rotatably y,mounted a carrier 2, having a plurality of cells 3, whichf are successively movable into `position to receivecharges of dough from" delivery means 4 supported on the frame above the carrier. The carrier is intermittently rotated, to effect a step by step movement` of the cells, by means of operatmg mechanism 5, including a clutch 'which is controlled by tripping mechanisin7. l

In the form shown, the frame 1 comprises a central' structure 8 for supporting the tripping mechanism 7, and end members 9 having bearings 10` for rotatably supporting a horizontal shaft 11, on which is mounted the carrier 2 and'clutch 6. Extending between the end members 9 and located below the delivery means 4, is a stationary top lmember' 12 having ja central opening13,

through which the dough is fed tothefcells 3. The' bottom of the member 12 is provided With a concave face 14, which slid@` ably engages the periphery of the carrier,

so `as to permit they inner edge 15 of themember 12 to coact with the rims of the cells` for severing .the charges of dough fromy the batch when the carrier is rotated. Journaled in the end members 9 at one side of the frame, is a roller `16. for supporting in the form of radially shiftable plungers an endless eonveyer 17,. which is arranged in position to receive the charges of dough when they are ejected from the cells.

As illustrated, the carrier 2 comprises a spider 18, including The cells 3 extend radially inwardly from the peripheral flange 19, and lare uniformly spaced apart circumferentially, as shown in' Figure 2. The cells are tubular in form and are provided with movable bottoms 21,

mounted in bushings 22. form scale plates which are by the weight of the dough when the cells are located in upright position foriilling, and whichl are cammed outwardly for ejecting the dough when the cells reach the discharge position. Mounted on the inner end of each of the plungers 21, is a shaft 23, on which is journaled a roller 24, arranged in position to coact with the tripping mechanism, as hereinafter described'.

The shafts 23 project through the plungers 21 on one side of the carrier -to coact with cams 25 and 26, which are mounted o-n the The plungers 21 frame structure 8, on respectively 'opposite sides of the shaft 11. ranged to hold the plungers-of the upwardly moving cells fiush with the peripheral fiange 19 until the respective cell reaches the filling position. The cam 25 is interrupted at a point below the outlet 13 of the delivery means, so that when the lrespective cell reaches anvupright position, its plunger is free to move inwardly under the action of the dough. The friction between the scale The cam 25 is a'rplates and the bushings 22 prevents the scaleplates from falling inwardly when in upright position after being` released from the cam 25. Thel cam 26 is arranged to urge the plungers outwardly, cells have been filled by for ejectingl the charges of dough onto the endless conveyer 17. If desired, the cam 26 may be located in position to coact with the rollers 24 instead of with the shafts 23. Fixed on the shaft 11, is a hub 27, having fingers 28 j )rojecting radially outwardly in sliding engagement with the inner ends of the plungers 21, for securing the movable bottoms against wabbling. Outward movethe delivery means,

ment of the plungers 21 is limited by the projecting g parts of the shafts 23, which coa-ct with recesses 29 formed in the cells 3. The delivery means 4 includes a hopper 30, supported on the frame 1 above the carrier, and a pair of feed rollers 31, supported on shafts 32, journaled in the frame, struc'-v ture, and connected to t-he operating mechanism 5 by gears 33 arranged for rotating the rollers 31 in opposite directions so as to feed the dough from the hopper through the outlet 13. vThe hopper 3() is provided with removable `gates 34 on: opposite'sdes a peripheral flange 19,l and having` a hub 20, keyed to the shaftll.l

forced inwardly after the respective lrollersV 50 to of the rollers 31, to permit access tothe interior of the hopper for the purpose of cleaning. Arranged below the rollers is a block 35, having a frusto-conical chute 36 registering with the outlet opening 13, and having a pair of Scrapers 37 mounted therein in position to coact with the peripheries of the rollers 31. VThe peripheries of therollers 31 are spirally grooved, as shown non the operating shaft 39. Formed on the inner face rack 43.

The member 41 is in the form of a spider fixed on 4the driven shaft 11, and-having bearing parts 44 Aformed at the outer ends of the spider arms. The bearing parts 44 ycorrespond in number to the cells 3, and the spider 41. is arranged so as to locate the bearings 44 in axial alinement with the cells. Supported in the bearings 44, areclutch elements in the form of axially shiftable" plungers '45,'which are splined to the bearings, as shown at 46. The inner ends of the plungers 45 are formed to provide'shoulders 47, which are adapted to'4 coact with the annular. rack 43 of the gear 40, for connecting the clutch members. The lplungers 45 are Vnormally urged into engagement with the rack 43 by helical springs 48, arranged within -the'bearing partsf44. Mounted on ofthe gear A40 is an annular 'each of the )luiwers 45 ad'acent the outer end thereof, isa collar 49, carrying a roller 50, which is located in position to coact with an annular cam track 51 forholding the plungers 45 in a retracted position.

The track 51 is fixed on the frame structure in concentric relation to the clutch members`40 and 41, and is interrupted or de- The depression 52 is formed on an ar'cof the track '51 of lsubstantially the same degree as the angle formed by two adjacent arms of the spider 41, thereby permitting the progressively enter the depression 52 only one at a time, as shown in Figure 4. f 1

In the form shown, the tripping mechain upright position for filling.

` member 53 and detent 55.

the detent 55 permits the respective lclutch Ltsdeae `nism 7 comprises a `vertieallyshiitable member 53 shdably supported on' pins 54 fixed on the central traine structure 8. Mounted on the member 58 adjacent its upper end, is a` iframe structure 8 and the lower end ot the,l

member 53. Rotatably mounted on the member 53, is a vertically disposed rod 58 lmving a portion o'if its shank threaded to yroceive a vertically adjustable tripper arm 59. The tripper arm extends into position to successively coact with the rollers 24 of the scale plates 21, so as to be actuated for releasing the detent 55 by the movement of the scale plate kto a predetermined position relative to its cell, when the latter is located in upright position for iilling. The adjustable mounting ot the tripper arm 59 permits setting of the tripping mechanisnrfor operation at various positions of the scale pla-tes relative to the cells, thereby controlling the amount of dough received in each charge. ln the form shown, adjustment of the tripper arml 59 is `effected through the rotation of the rod 58 by means oit a handle 60 and intermeshing pinions 61 and 62. To

permit the manual retraction ot the detentv 55, irrespective of the weight or the dough in the cells,. the tripping` mechanism includes a 'cam 63, operated by a. handle 611, and located in position to coact with the upper end oit the rod 58 sol that by the rotationof the handle 64C, the rod l58 and its supporting member against the action of the springs 57. j

ln operation, the clutch members 40 and L11 are normally disengaged and the carrier E2 is stationary witlrone ot its cells located In this position ot the clutch members, one of the plungers is' held retracted by th'e detent 55 of the tripping mechanism, ing plungers are held retracted by the cam track 51. The batch of dough in the hopper 30 is ted by the rollers 31 through the outlet 13 and into the uprightcell kThe weight of the dough in ther cell tor-ces the scale plate downwardly until the roller 2li comes in contact with the tripper arm 59, `which is thereby actuated to retract the yThe retraction of element i5 to move into driving engagement with the annular' raclr 43, thereby causing the clutch member 41, shaft 11 and carrier 2 torotate with the clutch member l0 until the roller of the driving plunger 45, rides up the cam track 51 from the depression 52. When, the roller 50 of the driving plunger 415 with respect to said 53 are forceddownwardlyv and the remain-` rotatable on a moves out of 'the depression 52, the follow- I ing plunger moves into engagement with the detent 55, which has been lurged upwardly by the springs 57, andthe carrier 2 stops in position yto locate the succeeding cell 3 in register with the outlet 13. 'It it is desired to rotate the carrier 2 during the cleaning oli the machine 'for ejecting line particlesot dough trom the cells, the tripping mechanism is manually actuate by nie-ans of "the handle 64. j 1 `Although but one specific embodiment of this invention has been herein shown and described, it will be understood that numerous details of the construction shown may be altered or omitted Without departing from the spirit et this invention, as defined by the itollowing` claims.

I claim:

1. A dough divider comprising a carriery rotatable on a horizontal axis, a cell supported on said carrier and disposed radially tion of saidcarrier `moves said cellv trom an upright to an inverted position', a movable bottom in said cell, means tor delivering dough to said cell, and mechanism' controlled by the position of said movable bottom relative to said actuating said carrier. f

2. A dough divider comprising a carrier rotatable on a horizontal axis, a cell lsupported 'on said carrier and disposed radially with respect to said axis whereby the rotation of said carrier moves said cell from an upright to an inverted position, a movable bottom in said cell, means tor .delivering doughto saidA cell and'inechanism'for intermittently rotatingsaid carrier, said mechanism being controlled by `the position of said movable bottom relative to the cell when the latter is located in position to be filled by said delivery means. y

3. A dough divider comprisinga carrie-r rotatable on a horizontal axis, a cell `supported on Saidcarrier and disposed radially with respect to said axis whereby the rotation ot said carrier moves said cell trom an upright to an dough to saidcell, operating mechanism tor rotating said carrier, and a clutch shiftable into and out of position for connecting said carrier to said operating mechanism, said clutch being controlled by the position yof said movable ybottom relative to said :cell when the latter is located in position to be lled by said delivery means.

4t. lA dough divider comprising a carrier horizontal airis, a cell supported on said carrier` and disposed radially with respect to said axis whereby the rotation or' said carrier moves said cell from an upright to an inverted position, a movable bottom in said cell, means `for delivering` axis whereby the rotacell "for intermittently inverted position,` a movable bottom in said cell, means tor delivering clutch inactive, said tripping mechanism being arranged to coact With said movabler bottom so as to be actuated for releasing said clutch by the movement ot said bottom to a predetermined position relativey to the cell When the latter is located in position to be filled by said delivery means.

A dough divider comprising a carrier Vrotatable on a horizontal axis, a cell supported on saidcarrierahd disposed radially With respect `to said axis whereby the rotation o1a said carrier moves said cell 'from an upright to an inverted position, a movable ott-om in said cell, means tor delivering dough to said cell, operating mechanism for rotating sa-id carrier, and a clutch including a pair of members arranged to coact With each other 'for connecting said carrier to said operating mechanism, one of said members being connectedrto said operating` mechanism so as to be continuously rotatable, the other oi said members being fixed on said carrier, a clutch element mounted on said other member and sliiftable into and out of driving engagement with said one member, means normally urging said clutch element into operative position, and tripping' mechanism arranged to hold said clutch element retracted, said tripping mechanism being adapted to coact With said movable bottom :tor releasing said clutch element by the movement of said bottom to a predetermined position relative to said cellwhen the latter is located in position to be filled by said delivery means.

A6. A dough divider comprising a driven shaft, al rotatable carrier fixed on said shaft and having' a plurality ot cells arranged in its periphery 'and spaced apart circumferentially, movable bottoms arranged in said cells to lorin scale plates, filling means for delivering dough to said cells, operating mechanism it'or rotating said shaft so as to bring said cells successively into position to receive a charge of dough from said delivery means, a clutch including a pair of coacting members adapted to connect said shaft to said operating mechanism, one of said members being loosely mounted on said shaft and geared to said operating mechanism, the other of said members being fixed on said shaft, a plurality of axially shittable plungers mounted on said other member, said pluugers being normally urged into driving engagement With said one member, a detent adapted to successively hold -eacli of said plungers in a retracted position, and a cam arranged tohold the remaining plungers reas to be actuated for releasing' the respective plunger by the movement of the respective scale plate to-a predetermined position relative to its cell When the latter is located in filling position. f

"l". A dough divider comprising a frame, a carrier rotatably mounted in said frame, a cell supported on said carrier and having a movable bottom forming a scale plate,'means tor delivering dough to said cell, yoperating mechanism tor rotating said carrier, a clutch including a pair of concentric members arranged in opposed relation and adapted to coact with each other for connecting said carrier to said operating mechanismJ an annular rack on the linner face of one of said members, a plurality ot axially shiftable plungers mounted on the other member and normally urged into driving engagement With said rack, a detent arranged to successively hold each of said plungers in a retract- 'ed position, said detent beingadapted to coact with said scale plate so as to be actuated tor releasing the respective plunger by the movement of said scale plate to a predetermined position nrelative to the cell, and an annular stationary cam track located in position to hold the remaining plungers retracted, said cam track being interrupted at a point adjacent said detent so asy to permit the respective plunger to move into engagement with said rack When released by said detent.

8. A dough divider comprising a frame, a carrier supported in said frame and rotatable on a horizontal axis, said carrier having -a plurality of cells arranged in its periphery and spaced apart circumferentially, movable bottoms arranged in said cells to form scale plates, .filling means supportedin said frame above said carrier for delivering dough to said cells, operating mechanism for rotating said carrier so as to bring said cells successively into an upright position to receivea charge of dough from said delivery means, a clutch normally urged into operative position for connecting said carrier to said operating mechanism, a vertically shiftable detent supported on said frame and normally urged into position for holding said clutch retracted, and an arm adjustably mounted on said detent and extending into position to coact successively with each of said scale plates forretracting said'detent to release .said Vclutch by the movement of the rcspectivescale plate toA a predetermined position relative to its cell.

Signed atvChicago this 24 day ot Oct., i922.

DnNNis Woon SMITH; 

